My heart pounded in my chest as I sprinted through the chaos, eyes locked on my mother. This world might have been new to me, but the bond we shared was as real as anything I’d known in my previous life. My family—my only family—was in danger. I wasn’t just fighting for survival. I was fighting for the people who gave me a second chance. Anyone who threatened them would pay.

Without warning, a man appeared in front of me, his sword raised.

“You think you’re a hero, huh?” he sneered. “Step aside, boy. You’re out of your league.”

His words dripped with mockery, but I saw the tremor in his eyes. He was scared—just like the rest of them.

Before I could even react, my ki surged through me, amplifying my strength 3 times over. My body felt like a weapon, ready to strike. He swung at me with all his fury.

I dodged, my movements a blur. In a flash, I closed the gap, slamming my fist into his gut. His eyes glazed over as the pain took over, and he crumpled, dropping his sword with a thud.

I barely had time to register my victory before my mom screamed in fear.

I whipped my head around. She was running toward the forest. Panic flared in my chest. But what caught my eye were the bandits that were running into the forrest.

One of the bandits had my sister.

A fiery rage built up inside me, hotter than anything I had felt in my previous life. I couldn’t just let this happen.

I pushed through the crowd, my voice a low growl. “Hide. I’ll save her.”

Without waiting for her to argue, I sped off into the trees, weaving between trunks, my heart pounding in my throat. Up ahead, I saw the bandit carrying my sister, two others in tow.

One of them stopped, turning to face me. “Get her to the wagon! I’ll handle this brat!”

He planted himself in front of me, sword raised, ready to fight.

His movements were sluggish. The man I’d fought before was faster.

These aren't humans—these are scum. And I won’t hesitate. Anger twisted inside me.

I dodged his lazy swing with ease, his blade cutting through air where I’d just been. I flowed around him like water, just ahead of his next strike.

I pivoted, my hand snapping out. Water swirled around my arm, forming a blade. With a single motion, I thrust it toward his knee.

The blade sliced through the air with a hiss, cutting deep into his flesh. He crumpled to the ground, his scream tearing through the forest. The shock of it sent him sprawling, unable to stand.

I need answers. Why are they here? All this for supplies? If they were only here for supplies why would they kidnap my sister?

The man’s scream echoed as the other two bandits turned. The one holding my sister kept running, but the other paused, eyes wide with fury.

“Mike!” he shouted. “You brat!”

I didn’t hesitate. I charged forward, rage fueling my every step, conjuring a blade of water in my hand. It shot toward him like a meteor, gleaming with lethal intent.

He reacted just in time, his hands pushing forward. The earth before him rumbled and split, rising into a jagged wall. My water blade slammed into it with a deafening clash, leaving only a shallow scratch in the stone.

Wait… a mage?

I blinked, startled. This was my first encounter with another mage, and I wasn’t about to be caught off guard.

I assessed him quickly, my mind running through my options.

Let’s test it.

I knew exactly what to do. My ki-enhanced power allowed me to control water with precision, and I’d developed a technique that could turn the tide in my favor.

“Double Impact,” I muttered under my breath.

I formed a swirling ball of water around my fist, feeling its energy hum. Then I launched myself at the wall, my ki-pumped legs propelling me forward with blinding speed.

When I hit the wall, the force of my strike shattered it into pieces, sending debris flying in every direction. The earth trembled beneath me, but the wall didn’t stand a chance. The sound was deafening, the shockwave vibrating through my bones.

“ called the water to me again, its form swirling into a blade. Before I could lunge, the ground beneath me shifted—he wasn’t just raising a wall this time. Roots and dirt surged upward, tangling my feet. A cold grin split his face as he stepped closer, confident I was caught.

I scrambled, fighting to free myself. He was almost on top of me.

Not this time.

I pushed myself up, the earth crackled as he conjured another earth wall.

I charged again, fury burning in my veins. This time, two swirling water balls formed in my hands, ready to break through his defense.

“Triple Impact!” I roared.

My fist slammed into the wall, cracking it open. The first ball shattered it entirely, dust and stone flying. As the second water orb careened forward, it struck the bandit in the face. His eyes widened in shock, but there was no escape.

The orb crashed into his face with brutal force, and the sickening sound of bone breaking echoed through the forest. Blood sprayed across the ground, splattering like a twisted fountain.

The man stumbled back, his body limp, but I wasn’t done.

Before he hit the ground, I summoned a final blade of water, driving it deep into his stomach. The sickening crack of flesh gave way to a hollow sound as I watched him die.

I stood over him, my breath heavy with the weight of the battle.

“You don’t deserve mercy,” I muttered coldly.

And with that, I turned to hunt down the bandit who still had my sister.